Thermostatic valve frame structure

ABSTRACT

Valve frame structure which is particularly adapted to be a part of thermally responsive valve apparatus. The frame structure includes a sheet metal member which can be produced by a stamping, punching, or drawing operation, or the like. The sheet metal member has a folded portion for providing rigidity thereto and, in some modifications, the folded portion is used for attachment to another element or elements.

waited States Patent [1 1 Saur et a1. 5] Feb. 19, 1974 THERMOSTATICVALVE FRAME [56] References Cited STRUCTURE UNITED STATES PATENTS [75]Inventors: Roland Saur; Wilhelm Schwarz, 3,512,710 5/1970 Resta 236/34both of Stuttgart, Germany 3,591,075 6/1971 Onishi 236/34 [7 g eez ir aBe r ho son 1,590,922 6/1926 Zimmerman 236/34 gehnstmfiregler GmbflStuttgart Primary Examiner-William E. Wayner ermany Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Jacox & Meckstroth 22 Filed: Feb. 22, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 227,819 11 ABSTRACT Valve frame structure which is particularly adapted to be apart of thermally responsive valve apparatus. The [30] Foreign Apphcanon,pnomy Data frame structure includes a sheet metal member which Feb. 26,1971 Germany, 2109326 can be produced by a Stamping punching, or drawingoperation, or the like. The sheet metal member has a [52] U.S. Cl.236/100, 236/34 folded portion for providing rigidity thereto and, in[51] II}!- Cl- F01p e modifications, the folded portion is used for [58]Field of Search..... 251/361; 236/34, 34.5, 100, tachmem to anotherelement or elements 15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures g h Z/ BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION Numerous frame structures have been devised in regard tothermally responsive valve apparatus. However, most of the apparatusknown have several individual elements which are attached together bybrazing, soldering, welding, riveting or the like to form each member.Of course, members so constructed are relatively expensive andconstruction thereof requires considerable time.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide valve framestructure for a thermally responsive valve apparatus in which a valveseat member and a support bridge can be produced by use ofa single pieceof sheet metal which is punched, stamped, drawn or the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a valve seatmember which has a flange portion which is a folded part of the sheetmetal material, and thus the flange portion is relatively strong andrigid.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a valve seat memberto which other members of the valve apparatus can be easily and readilyattached without riveting, welding, brazing, or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide such frame structure bywhich a spring seat member of the apparatus can be an integral part of avalve seat mem- I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI-IEDRAWING FIG. 1 is asectional view of thermally responsive valve apparatus constructed inaccordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enla ged fragmentary perspective sectional view of aportion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a modification ofthe portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of anothermodification of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of anothermodification of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of anothermodification of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of anothermodification of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5,and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Apparatus of this invention asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a member 10, preferablyconstructed of sheet metal material or the like, and having an annularvalve seat portion 12, forming a fluid port. Extending-upwardly from thevalve seat portion 12 is a bridge portion 14. Extending downwardly fromthe valve seat portion 12 is an annular intermediate portion 16 and aflange portion 20. The valve seat portion 12, the intermediate portion16, and the flange portion 20 are coaxial but non-coplanar.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the flange portion 20 consists of a folded partof the sheet metal material. .The flange portion 20 is adapted to besecured between two sections of a fluid conduit, not shown, within whichthe apparatus of this invention is adapted to be positioned.

Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the flange portion 20 has a plurality of stems21 extending therefrom, each of which has a lug 22 extending downwardlytherefrom. Each lug 22 has an aperture 24.

A member 26 is attached to the member 10. The member 26 includes anannular guide portion 28, from which a plurality of arms 30 extend. Theend of each arm 30 protrudes through the aperture 24 of one of the lugs22, for attaching the member 26 to the member 10.

Encompassed by the members 10 and 26 is a thermally responsive actuator32 which includes a container member 34 and a rod 36 extendingtherefrom. The thermally responsive actuator 32 may be any suitable typeof thermally responsive actuator, but is preferably of the general typedisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,806,375, and 2,806,376, having thermallyresponsive expansible-contractible material within a container, with arod extending from the container and with the rod and the containerbeing relatively movable. The rod 36 of the actuator 32 extends throughthe bridge 14 and has a shoulder 37 engaging the bridge 14. The rod 36has a portion within the container 34. The container 34 and the rod 36are relatively movable.

Encompassing and preferably attached to the container 34 is a closuremember 40. A resilient member, such as a coil spring 42, encompasses thecontainer 34 and the guide portion 28, and engages the closure member 40and the arms 30, and urges the closure member 40 toward the valve seat12. Therefore, the closure member 40 is normally in engagement with thevalve seat 12. Also, the container member 34, because it is engaged bythe closure member 40 is urged toward the bridge 14 by the coil spring42.

Thus, as the container 34 is subjected to temperatures above apredetermined value, there is relative movement between the container 34and the rod 36. The container 34 and the closure member 40 move in adirection from the valve seat 12, and therefore the fluid port formed bythe valve seat 12 is opened to permit flow of fluid therethrough. Whenthe temperature to which the container 34 is subjected is reduced belowa predetermined value, the container 34 and the closure member 40 aremoved toward the valve seat 12 by the coil spring 42.

Because the flange portion 20 is a folded part of the sheet metal whichforms the member 10, the flange portion 20 is relatively strong andrigid for clamping of the member 10 between two portions ofa fluidconduit.

Due to the fact that the lugs 22 have the apertures 24 therein, themember 26 is easily and readily attached to the member 10 without theuse of an attachment process such as soldering, welding, brazing,riveting, or the like.

FIG. 3

to the bridge 14, is a part ofthe member 50 and extends from an annularvalve seat portion 55 thereof. The flange 52 and the valve seat portion55 are coaxial but non-coplanar. A plurality of stems 54 extend from theflange 52, one of which is shown in FIG. 3. Each stem 54 has a lug 56normal thereto and extending upwardly therefrom. Each of the lugs 56 hasanopening 57 therethrough through which the end of an arm 58 extends.Each arm 58 is part of a member such as the member 26, shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4

In the modification shown in FIG. 4, a member 60, similar to the member10 is shown. The member 60 has a flange 62, which consists of a foldedpart of the sheet metal of which the member 60 is formed. A bridge 63,similar to the bridge 14 is a part of the member 60 and extends from anannular valve seat portion 65. The flange 62 and the valve seat portion65 are coaxial but non-coplanar.

Extending from the flange 62 are a plurality of stems 64, one of whichis shown in FIG. 4. Each stem 64 has a stud 66 normal thereto at the endthereof. An arm 68 is attached to each stem 64 as the arm 68 has anaperture 69 within which the stud 66 is positioned.

FIG.

In the modification of FIG. 5, a member 70, similar to the member 10, isshown. The member 70 has a bridge 71, similar to the bridge 14. Thebridge 71 extends from a valve seat portion 77. The member 70 has aflange 72 which consists of a single thickness portion of the sheetmetal material from which the member 70 is formed. The flange 72 and thevalve seat portion 77 are coaxial but non-coplanar. The member 70 has afolded portion 73 which is spaced from the flange 72 and which is normalthereto and which extends in a direction generally opposite from that ofthe bridge 71. The folded portion 73 has-attached thereto a plurality ofarms 74 which may be similar to the arms 30 and which have an end part76 extending through openings 75 in the folded portion 73.

FIG. 6

In the modification shown in FIG. 6, a member 80, similar to the memberis shown. The member 80 includes a bridge 81, similar to the bridge 14.The bridge 81 extends from a valve seat portion 83. The member 80 has afolded flange portion 82 which receives and retains the ends of aplurality of arms 84, one of which is shown in FIG. 6. The valve seatportion 83 and the flange portion 82 are coaxial but non-coplanar. Thearms 84 may be similar to the arms 30.

FIG. 7

In the modification of FIG. '7 a member 90 is shown which may be similarto the member 10. The member 90 has a plurality of arms 92 which areintegral therewith and which extend from a folded flange portion 94thereof. The lower end of each of the arms 92 has an upwardly extendinglug 95 which retains the lower end ofa coil spring 96, which is similarto the coil spring 42 of FIG. 1. The member 90 has a valve seat portion97 from which a bridge 98 extends. The valve seat portion 97 and theflange portion 94 are coaxial but noncoplanar.

SUMMARY Thus, it is understood that a frame member 10, 50, 60, 70, 80,and can be formed by simple drawing, punching, and folding operations,and arm members for support of a spring member and for support of guidemeans, may be attached to the members 10, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 withoutwelding, soldering, brazing, riveting and the like. Thus,thermostatically operable valve apparatus can be produced in massproduction operations at relatively low costs.

Although the preferred embodiment and modifications of the device havebeen described, it will be understood that within the purview of thisinvention, various changes may be made in the form, details, proportionand arrangement of parts, the combination thereof, and mode ofoperation, which generally stated consist in a device capable ofcarrying out the object set forth, as disclosed and defined in theappended claims.

The invention having thus been described, the following is claimed:

1. In thermally responsive valve apparatus having a I thermallyresponsive actuator, 21 frame member consisting of a single piece ofsheet material having a plurality of coaxial, but non-coplanar portions,the frame member having a substantially coplanar annular valve seatportion forming a fluid port, and an annular folded portionsubstantially coaxial with the fluid port, the folded portion being in aplane which is spaced substantially from the plane of the annular valveseat portion, the frame member having a bridge integral therewith andextending from the valve seat portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the frame member has a flangeportion and the folded portion is spaced from the flange portion and issubstantially normal thereto, the folded portion having openings thereinfor receipt of means for attachment of the frame member to anothermember.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the folded portion of the framemember constitutes a flange portion of the frame member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the folded portion of the framemember constitutes a flange and in which a plurality of stems extendfrom the flange, each stem having an aperture therethrough forattachmentof the frame member to another member.

5. The apparatus of claim'l in which the folded portion of the framemember constitutes a flange and in which a stem extends from the flangeand has a stud at the end thereof substantially normal to the stem forattachment of the frame member to another member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes attachment means which extendfrom the folded portion integral therewith.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 which includes a coil spring which is inengagement with the attachment means.

'8. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes attachment means partiallydisposed within the folded portion and extending therefrom.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the end of each stem has a portionsubstantially normal thereto through which the aperture extends.

l0. Thermally responsive valve apparatus comprismg:

a first sheet metal frame member, the first sheet metal frame memberhaving a folded portion, an annular valve seat portion forming a flowpassage therethrough, an integral bridge extending across the flowpassage,

a second sheet metal frame member, the second sheet metal frame memberhaving an annular guide member and a plurality of arms integraltherewith and extending therefrom, each of the arms being attached tothe first frame member,

a thermally responsive actuator member having a portion encompassed bythe guide member and having a portion engaging the bridge,

a closure member engageable with the valve seat portion of the firstmember and encompassing a portion of the actuator member,

a helical spring in engagement with the arms of the second frame memberand in engagement with the closure member and encompassing a portion ofthe actuator member.

11. The apparatus of claim in which the folded portion of the firstframe member is a flange portion thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the first frame member includesattachment means for attaching the second frame member to the firstframe member.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the attachment means of the firstframe member comprise a plurality of stems, each of which has a lug atthe end thereof provided with an aperture therein, and in which each ofthe arms of the second frame member has a portion extending through anaperture of one of the lugs for attachment of the second frame member tothe first frame member.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the first frame member has aflange portion and the folded portion is spaced from the flange portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 in which the folded portion has aplurality of apertures therethrough, each of the arms extending throughone of the apertures.

1. In thermally responsive valve apparatus having a thermally responsiveactuator, a frame member consisting of a single piece of sheet materialhaving a plurality of coaxial, but non-coplanar portions, the framemember having a substantially coplanar annular valve seat portionforming a fluid port, and an annular folded portion substantiallycoaxial with the fluid port, the folded portion being in a plane whichis spaced substantially from the plane of the annular valve seatportion, the frame member having a bridge integral therewith andextending from the valve seat portion.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 inwhich the frame member has a flange portion and the folded portion isspaced from the flange portion and is substantially normal thereto, thefolded portion having openings therein for receipt Of means forattachment of the frame member to another member.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 1 in which the folded portion of the frame member constitutes aflange portion of the frame member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 in whichthe folded portion of the frame member constitutes a flange and in whicha plurality of stems extend from the flange, each stem having anaperture therethrough for attachment of the frame member to anothermember.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the folded portion of theframe member constitutes a flange and in which a stem extends from theflange and has a stud at the end thereof substantially normal to thestem for attachment of the frame member to another member.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1 which includes attachment means which extend fromthe folded portion integral therewith.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 whichincludes a coil spring which is in engagement with the attachment means.8. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes attachment means partiallydisposed within the folded portion and extending therefrom.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 4 in which the end of each stem has a portionsubstantially normal thereto through which the aperture extends. 10.Thermally responsive valve apparatus comprising: a first sheet metalframe member, the first sheet metal frame member having a foldedportion, an annular valve seat portion forming a flow passagetherethrough, an integral bridge extending across the flow passage, asecond sheet metal frame member, the second sheet metal frame memberhaving an annular guide member and a plurality of arms integraltherewith and extending therefrom, each of the arms being attached tothe first frame member, a thermally responsive actuator member having aportion encompassed by the guide member and having a portion engagingthe bridge, a closure member engageable with the valve seat portion ofthe first member and encompassing a portion of the actuator member, ahelical spring in engagement with the arms of the second frame memberand in engagement with the closure member and encompassing a portion ofthe actuator member.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the foldedportion of the first frame member is a flange portion thereof.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 10 in which the first frame member includesattachment means for attaching the second frame member to the firstframe member.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the attachmentmeans of the first frame member comprise a plurality of stems, each ofwhich has a lug at the end thereof provided with an aperture therein,and in which each of the arms of the second frame member has a portionextending through an aperture of one of the lugs for attachment of thesecond frame member to the first frame member.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 10 in which the first frame member has a flange portion and thefolded portion is spaced from the flange portion.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 14 in which the folded portion has a plurality of aperturestherethrough, each of the arms extending through one of the apertures.